Dumping bucket



March 27, 1962 M. M. sr-:LBY

DUMPING BUCKET 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July '7, 1958 n L "n" MAX M. .SELEYy INVENTOR.

HERZ/G 8 JESSUP,

A TTOR/VE V5'a March 27, 1962 M. M. sELBY 3,027,032

DUMPING BUCKET Filed July 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MAX M. .se-Ley, INVENTOR.

HERZ/G a JESSUP, A T TOR/v5 V5.

3,027,032 DUMPINGBUCKET Max M. Selby, Los Angeles, Calif., assigner to Tubular Structures Corp. of America, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Qaifornia `lliled duly 7, 1958, Ser. No. '747,041 11 Claims. (Cl. 21d- 767) This invention relates to a bucket and a method for dumping, and more particularly to a bucket, for containing cernentitious material or the like, which automatically dumps or discharges the contents thereof at a predetermined level in response to movement of a platform supporting the bucket.

Heretofore, it has been a diiiicult problem to deliver cement or other material to elevated levels during construction of buildings and the like, for use by the workmen on the elevated level. Various awkward and time consuming methods have been heretofore employed, such as hoisting buckets containing the material by block and tackle, elevators, or other means, such methods being time consuming, and therefore expensive to the builder, inasmuch as the container must be'manuallyV discharged of its contents upon arrival at the desired level. 1n the use of elevators, portable or other, a tower having a movable platform has been more recently utilized tocarry containers such as wheelbarrows to an elevated position whereat such wheelbarrows are rolled from the platform to the scaffold or level of construction to empty the material into a receptacle for use by the worker. Such a method also has involved time consuming steps which not only delay the workman but is costly inasmuch as time is a great factor in building costs.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved bucket and method of use thereof, whereby the bucket may be easily and quickly elevated to a level where the material is to be used, automatically dumped into a suitable receptacle at the level, and automatically self-righted during its return travel.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved bucket which when being discharged moves the pouring lip thereof in substantially a horizontal direction, rather than in a vertical direction, and wherein the tipping motion of the bucket is substantially arcuate about the horizontal plane of the pouring lip, whereby the horizontal movement of the pouring lip is in a direction towards the receptacle, thus positioning the pouring lip over the receptacle at the time of dumping and eliminating splash and drippingsoutside of the receptacle by returning the bucket into substantially non-pouring position before moving away from the receptacle.

A further object of this invention is to provide new and improved actuating and power ratios whereby very little force is required to tip the bucket, and no motivating force is required to right the bucket.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a bucket which is self-righting under all conditions and in all positions whereby accidental or inadvertent dumping during movement or transportation thereof is prevented.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved bucket which is economical to manufacture and capable of-mass production and interchangeability of parts thereof.

Yet a further object of this inventionis to provide a new and improved bucket of the character described which is quickly and easily alterable for reversing the direction in which the bucket is dumped. y

Another object of this invention is to provide a bucket and method of dumping which is automatic in its operation, easily controlled and operated by unskilled persons,

3,927,32 Patented Mar. 27, 1962 and is easily and quickly adjusted to dump at predetermined levels.

A general object of this invention is to providea new and improved bucket for dumping cementitious materialwhich overcomes previous devices and methods heretofore intended to accomplish general lsimilar purposes.

These and other objects will be more apparent from the following detailed description, drawing, and appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a side view, in elevation, of a `bucket for dumping cementitious material, designed and constructed in accordance with this invention;

FlG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view, in elevation, of a frame and rail means operatively associated therewith;

FG. 3 is an end view thereof, as seen substantially on a line 3 3 of FIG. l; Y

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side view thereof, with parts broken away for greater clarity;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view as taken substantially along a line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a side view, similar to FIG. l, illustrating another embodiment thereof. t

Referring to the drawings, and particularlyto FIGS. 1 through 5, there is shown by way of illustration, but not of limitation, a bucket generally designated by the numeral 1t) having rocker means 11 operatively associated with rail means 12 of a frame 13 whereby the bucket is supported by the frame for an arcuate rocking movement thereon. The frame 13 is illustrated herein as being supported on a vertically movable platform P of a vertical tower T, shown in broken lines, whereby the bucket 1li may be filled, by a cementitious material or the like, at a lower level, such as the ground level, and elevated in the proximity of "an upper level, as indicated by the broken line representation of a scaffold or lio-or F to dump the contentsof the bucket into a receptacle R supported on the scaffold lwhere it is to be used.

The bucket or container 11i comprises substantially vertical side walls 14, a rear wall 15, a front sloping wall 16, a rearwardly sloping bottom 17 and an open top 18. The sloping front wall 16 provides a pouring lip 19 at its upper edge while the other side walls 14 and 15 may be conveniently provided with flared extensions 21 to prevent pouring of the contents over thesidres 14. It will be noted that because of the particular sloping construction of the front wall 16 and the bottom 1'7,`the center of gravity of the bucket10 is ysubstantially'rearwardly of a verticalfcenter line thereof, jthereby serving to keep the bucket 1t) in an upright, non-dumping, position. The bucket 10 is supported on thevrail-means Y12 by means of the rocker 'means 11 which includes `an arcuate rocker member 22 secured, as by weldingor the like indicated at 23, to each of the sidewalls 14 and located substantially forward ofthe center of the bucket whereby the center 'of gravity, being rearwardlythereonf, biases the bucket rearwardly and downwardly to bias the bucket into an upright position. Y

A transversely extending bracket 24 is preferably provided on each wall 14 and adjacent therear `wall 1S'to provide vmeans for'supporting the rearward portion of the bucket 1t) when the bucket is in an upright position, as seen in FIGS. l, 3, and 4, and acts as a stop to limit the downward ltravel of the rearward portion of the bucket when the bucket is permitted to return to an upright-position, as will be hereinafter described.

The rocker members 22 are provided with a plurality of spaced radial projecti0ns26, which may comprise rivets or suitable stud shafts, extending through apertures V27 of the arcuate members 22 and having heads or enlarged portions thereon welded to the inner surface of the rocker member 22 as indicated at 28.

As previously mentioned, the rocker means 11 is supported on the rail means 12 for arcuate movement thereon. In order to provide a positive engagement of the rocker member 22 with a corresponding rail 12, the upper surface of each rail 12 is provided with a plurality f linearly spaced apertures 28 which mate with the projections 26 whereby, during the tipping motion of the bucket to be hereinafter described, the projections 26 0f the rocker members 22 progressively engage corresponding apertures 28 of the rail to form a non-slipping engagement between the rocker member 22 and the rail means 13.

In order that the bucket 10 may be reversed, relative to the frame 13 and its rail means 12, to effect a dumping action in an opposite direction, the apertures 28 extend linearly the full length of the rail means, extending on both Sides of a pair of centermost apertures 23', whereby the primary projection 26' of each rocker is engaged in a centermost aperture 2S of the rail means to provide an equal peripheral travel in either direction as selected. The centermost aperture 28 is preferably appreciably larger in diameter than the remaining apertures 28 whereby the bucket 1t) may be easily and readily accurately located relative to the rail means.

Each of the rocker members 22 is preferably provided with a depending tab 29 having an aperture 31 substantially aligned with an aperture 32 of the frame 13 whereby the bucket may be locked against arcuate movement, as during transportation from one job to another, or for other purposes, by inserting a bolt, pin, or the like (not shown), into the aligned holes 31 and 32.

A cable means 33 is operatively associated with the rocker means 11 and the platform P to translate a predetermined portion of the vertical travel of the platform into an arcuate movement of the bucket 10 to tip or dump the bucket as the platform P is elevated. The cable means 33 includes a cable 34 secured at one end thereof to rearward portion of a rocker member 22 as indicated at 36. The secured end of the cable 34 may be couveniently looped through a pair of apertures 37 of the rocker member 22 and secured as by a clip 38. The cable 34 extends over a substantial portion of the rocker member 22, that is, the upper portion 39 thereof, and forwardly and downwardly and around a pulley 41 rotatably mounted on the frame member 13. The cable 34 extends rearwardly therefrom and is secured at its other end to a block and tackle assembly indicated at 42. Another cable 43 is secured at one end thereof to a forward bracket 44 of the frame 13 and extends rearwardly and is secured at a rearward bracket 46 of the frame 13 to form a guide rail for the block and tackle 42 to travel on. The cable 43 extends forwardly and around a pulley 47 of the block and tackle 42 and rearwardly and around a pulley 48 rotatably mounted on the frame 13, within a rearward bracket 48, and thence forwardly and around a pulley 49 of the forward bracket 44, a free end 51 depending therefrom and preferably provided with a loop or ring 52 to slidingly engage a vertical guide cable 53 mounted on the tower T.

The guide cable 53 may comprise a flexible cable as illustrated, or a rigid rod if preferred, and is secured to the upper portion of the tower T as indicated at 54 and similarly to the base portion of the tower (not shown). An adjustable stop member or egg 56 is releasably secured to the guide cable 53 in a predetermined position, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

An important feature of this invention is that as the bucket 10 is elevated by the platform P of the tower T, the bucket is automatically tipped or dumped at a preselected elevation to discharge its contents into the receptacle. By the foregoing description, it will now be apparent that as the platform P is elevated on the tower T, it elevates the frame 13 and bucket 10 and the cable means 33 which is mounted on the frame 13. At the time that the ring 52 of the free end 51 of the cable means 33 comes into contact with the pre-positioned stop 56 of the guide cable 53, the end 51 is arrested at this point. As the platform P continues to raise the frame 13 and the bucket 10, a tension is applied to the cable means 33, through the cable 43, block and tackle 42, and cable 34, and to the rocker 22 to which the cable 34 is secured, causing the rocker 22 to roll on the rail 12, as a gear or wheel, the projections 26 mating and engaging apertures 28 of the rail, to tip the bucket 10 forwardly as the platform P is elevated.

It will be noted that as the frame 13 is elevated and the bucket 10 is tipped, the pouring lip 19 does not travel in a vertical direction, but instead travels in a substantially horizontal direction, while the bucket 10, in effect, rotates substantially around the pouring lip 19. As best seen in FIG. 1, the pouring lip 19 moves horizontally from a position clearing the scaffold or oor F to a position 19', in broken lines, over the receptacle R to dump the contents of the bucket 10 into the receptacle.

A stop chain 57 is preferably interconnected between the bucket 10 and cross members 58 of the frame 13 to prevent excessive tipping of the bucket beyond a point where the center of gravity still biases the bucket into a normal upright position. The chain 57 is secured at one end thereof to an apertured clip 59, welded or otherwise secured to the bottom 17 of the bucket 10. The other end of the chain 57 is removably secured as by a clevis or snap 61 to an eye or loop 62 of a frame cross member 58. Each cross member 58 is preferably supplied with an eye 62 for convenience in reversing the dumping movement of the bucket 10 to discharge in an opposite direction, as will be hereinafter described.

The platform P is preferably halted at its uppermost position, as indicated by the broken line illustration 13' of the uppermost position of the frame 13, by conventional means which includes a device similar to the guide cable 53 and stop 56. As seen in connection with FIG. 6, the tower T is provided with a second guide cable 63 and an appropriate adjustable stop member 64 which is engaged by an apertured or looped arm 66 of the platform P whereby the platform P and arm 66, when reaching its uppermost position, engages the stop member 64 of the cable 63 to pull the cable 63 upwardly and thereby operate a clutch (not shown) of a drive means (not shown) of the platform to stop the vertical movement thereof. Other suitable methods may be employed for controlling movement of the platform. Such movement may be optionally manually controlled, as by an operator located at the base of the tower, who may stop the movement of the platform when it has reached its uppermost position to tip the bucket. The Vertical movement of the platform P is preferably halted before the chain 57 is extended to its full length to avoid breakage thereof.

As the platform P is subsequently lowered, the frame is lowered and thereby removes the tension from the cable means 33, allowing the center of gravity of the bucket 10 to cause the bucket 10 to roll, by means of the rocker 22 on the rail 12, back to its normal upright position as shown in solid lines in FIG. 1, with the side brackets 24 supporting the rear end of the bucket 10. As the platform continues downwardly, the ring 52 is released from the stop 56 and slides downwardly on the cable 53.

As previously mentioned, au important feature of this invention is the arresting of the free end S1 of the cable means 33 to actuate the tipping action of the bucket 10. This arresting may be accomplished in various ways and still remain within the scope of this invention, another means being illustrated in FIG. 6.

In the instant embodiment of FIG. 6, the free end 51 of the cable means 33 is secured, removably or otherwise, to a cross member v67 of a slide means 68, having a vertical portion 69 slidingly disposed in a guide member y71 secured to the platform A stop 72 is adjustably secured to the tower T at a predetermined position, as dictated by the location of the receptacle, whereby elevation of the paltform P ultimately brings the upper end 73 into abutment with the stop 72, stopping the slide member 63 while the platform P and the guide member 71 continue upwardly, and causing a tension on the cable means 33 to tip the bucket Iii in the same manner previously described.

If itis desiredto dump the bucket to the left, as seen in FIG. l, conversely to the dumping action illustrated therein, the chain 57 and cable means 33 may be disconnected from the frame I3 and the bucket It) reversed relativeto the rail means 12 but still having its primary projection 26 in engagement with centermost apertures 28 of the rail Vmeans f2. The cable means 33 is then rethreaded so `that the cable 34 engages a pulley 76 of the rearward bracket 46 and the free end 51 depends from the pulley 48 'of the vbracket 46. In this instance, the guide` cable 53 is mounted on the opposite side of the tower T toprovide a stop 56 for the ring 52 as previously described. The chain 57 is removably secured as-by the snap or clevis 6I tothe eye 62 of the other cross member S to limit the tilting motion of the bucket in this opposite direction.

The bucket I@ is preferably provided with a rocker 22. on each side thereof to stabilize movement of the bucket lil relative to the frame I3 and is preferably provided with a guard rail 77, on each rocker, to prevent inadvertent slipping of the cable 34 oif the upper portion 39 of the rocker during movement thereof. Apertures 37 are preferably provided in each rocker to facilitate reversal of the `movement of the bucket I0. If desired, the brackets 44tand 46 may beremovably .secured to the frame 12 rather' than welded as illustrated in the drawings.

In general, this invention comprises acontainer or bucket 10 having a forward pouring lip VI9 and a center of gravity substantially rearwardly of the center ofthe bucket, whereby the bucket is biased by gravity into a normal upright position. Rocker means 11 is'provided on the bucket having projections mating with apertures of a rail means 12 on the frame 13, eifectinga gear or `sprocket Vaction to the rocker means Il whereby the bucket 10-may be rolled or rocked on the rail means l2 to tip the bucket. The bucket 10 is tipped to discharge its contents into a receptacle R by elevating the frame 13 until the pouring lip has reached the desired pouring position. The depending free end 51 of the cable means 33 is arrested in a predetermined spaced relationship with the pouring position of the lip to effect a tension in the cable means 53 and pull on the rocker means I1, thereby tipping the bucket 1t) as the frame I3 continues upwardly. In the arcuate tipping movement, the bucket, in effect, rotates around the pouring lip, with the lip being the axis of rotation, whereby the pouring lip does not move any further in a vertical direction but does move in a horizontal direction to position the pouring lip directly over the receptacle for dumping therein. As the platform is subsequently lowered after discharging has been completed, the tension in the cable means 33 is relieved and the bucket, due to the center of gravity thereof being substantially rearwardly of the Vertical center line of the bucket in its tipped position, rocks back to its normal upright position.

To adjust the position of the pouring lip 19 relative to the receptacle R, the platform l may be elevated until the pouring lip 19 is approximately at the desired elevation for pouring. The stop 56 is then secured on the cable 53 whereby the ring 52 of the free end 5i is in contact therewith. Additional elevation of the frame 13, as previously described, will cause the bucket to tip. If the dumping of the bucket is desired at a different level, the adjustment may be repeated to position the stop 56 to correspond.

In instances where dumping at constantly varying elevations is desired, the stop 56 may be manually controlled, from a remote position or otherwise, or the free end 5l may be of sufficient length to reach an operator at the ground level, whereby the operator may arrest the free end at a desired point to initiate the tipping action of the bucket. As an example, the free end may be wrapped around a drum or winch on the ground level, or at any convenient location, and arrested when the pouring lip has reached the elevated position desired for dumping.

It is further to be understood that the dumping action need not be limited to an elevation of the platform P. If it is desired to deliver the contents of the bucket to a level which is lower than the loading or lillinglevel, the cable 43 may be conveniently restrung on the pulley 39 of the frame 13whreby the cable 43 passes beneath the pulley 49 instead of over it, and the free end 51 is eX- tended upwardly to engage the upper surface of the stop 56, causing a tipping action of the bucket when the platform is lowered beyond the point where the ring 52 engages the stop S6. In this fashion, the bucket may, for example, be loaded at a ground level and caused to discharge its contents at a subterranean level for use thereat.

Moreover, it is within the scope of this invention to move the platform P horizontally or in an inclined direction, as on wheels or skids, and to provide .arresting means similar to the cable 53 but arranged substantially parallel to the movement, to cause the bucket to tip and discharge its contents at a location infinitely remote from the filling station, either on the same level as the `filling station, or uphill or downhill, as the situation requires.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that .departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and methods.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bucket for dumping materials comprising: a frame having a pair of spaced parallel rails; a container supported on said rails in an upright, non-tipping, nondumping position; rocker means on each side of said container, each being in engagement with one of said rails for rocking said container on said rails into a tipping position, said rocker means having an axis of rotation forwardly of the center of gravity of said container for biasing said container into an upright, non-dumping position, cable means on said frame and having one end thereof wrapped around a substantial portion of said rocker means and secured thereto, and a free end; means for selectively moving said frame in a direction away from said free end; means for arresting said free cable end at a predetermined position, for automatically translating continued movement of said frame into a rocking motion of said rocker means to discharge the contents of said bucket; and means for moving said frame in an opposite direction for automatically rocking said bucket into an upright position.

2. A bucket as in claim l including stop means for limiting the rocking motion of said container.

3. A bucket as in claim 2 wherein said pouring lip of said container is adapted to move in `a horizontal direction while said container is moved in said one direction and rocked.

4. A vertical tower having a horizontal platform thereon and drive means for selectively elevating and lowering said platform, in combination with: a frame on said platform having horizontal rails; a container on said frame; rocker means on said container for rockably supporting said container on said rails; cable means on said container having one end thereof wrapped around a substantial portion of said rocker means and a free end depending therefrom; and means on said tower for arresting said free end of said cable means at a predetermined position whereby subsequent elevation of said platform effects a rocking motion of said container for dumping the contents thereof.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said rocker means is substantially forwardly of the center of gravity of said container, whereby lowering of said platform permits said container to automatically rock back to its normal upright position.

6. A vertical tower having a horizontal platform thereon and drive means for selectively elevating and lowering said platform, in combination with: a frame on said platform having horizontal rails; a container on said frame; rocker means on said container operatively associated with said container and said rails for imparting an arcuate dumping motion to said container; cable means on said tower; stop means adjustably secured on said cable means; a second cable means on said frame having one end thereof wrapped around a substantial portion of said rocker frame and secured thereto, and another end depending from said frame and slidingly engaging said first cable means below said stop means, whereby elevation of said platform brings said other end into contact with said stop means thereby arresting said other end of said second cable means and subsequent elevation of said platform imparts a rocking motion to said container for discharging the contents thereof.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said rocker means is substantially forwardly of the center of gravity of said container, whereby lowering of said platform causes said container to automatically rock back to a normal upright position.

8. A vertical tower having a horizontal platform thereon and drive means for selectively elevating and lowering said platform, in combination with: a frame on said platform having horizontal rails; a container on said frame; rocker means on said container operatively associated with said container and said rails for imparting an arcuate dumping motion to said container; guide means on said platform; stop means adjustably secured on said tower at a predetermined height; slide means slidably disposed in said guide means and having one end thereof extending upwardly and adapted to engage said stop means and a transverse lower end; cable means on said frame having one end thereof wrapped around a substantial portion of said rocker means and secured thereto and another end depending from said frame and secured to said transverse lower end of said slide means, whereby elevation of said platform brings said one end of said slide means into contact with said stop means of said tower thereby arresting said other end of said cable means and subsequent elevation of said platform imparts a rocking arcuate movement to said container for discharging the contents thereof.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said rocker means is substantially forwardly of the center of gravity of said container, whereby lowering of said platform permits the container to automatically rock back to its normal upright position.

10. A bucket for dumping materials comprising: a frame having a pair of spaced parallel rails; a container supported on said rails in an upright, non-tipping, nondumping position; rocker means on each side of said container and having a pouring lip at one end thereof, each being in engagement with one of said rails for rocking said container on said rails into a tipping position to discharge material over said pouring lip, said rocker means at all times engaging said rails forwardly of the center of gravity of said container in the direction of tipping movement whereby gravity biases said container into an upright, non-dumping position, means for imparting a linear movement to said frame in one direction; a d means operatively connected to said container and said frame for translating said linear movement of said frame into a rocking movement of said container for tipping said container into a dumping position in response to movement of said frame.

11. A bucket in accordance with claim 10, wherein said container is responsive to linear movement of said frame in the opposite direction from its dumping position to automatically rock back to said normal upright, nontipping position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,009,038 Bathrick Nov. 21, 1911 1,430,655 Irrgang Oct, 3, 1922 1,787,716 Beckwith Jan. 6, 1931 2,011,656 Sill Aug. 20, 1935 2,055,902 Levinstim Sept. 29, 1936 2,519,153 Roura Aug. 15, 1950 2,668,630 Ertl Feb. 9, 1954 2,959,312 Maxen Nov. 8, 1960 

